Bachelor's Degree
Criminal Justice
Online Bachelor's Degree Program
Bachelor's Degree
Criminal Justice
Online Bachelor's Degree Program
Earn a bachelor’s degree in less than 3 years with Herzing
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Transfer credit | Up to 90 approved credits |
| Dual credit | Qualified students can earn dual credit towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Social Work (MSW) |
| Careers | Prepare for careers in law enforcement, criminal investigation, probation/parole and more |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online bachelor's programs in 2024
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Online
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree is a 120-credit undergraduate program which prepares you for several types of careers in criminal justice and public safety. The degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in criminal law, criminology, victimology, forensic psychology, criminal investigation, and much more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start January 6th
Learn More Today
Curriculum
Criminal justice bachelor's degree classes & curriculum details
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Herzing University prepares graduates for many different careers in the law enforcement, security and corrections fields. As a student you will gain a solid understanding of the legal system and judicial process as well as learn the unique aspects of corrections and juvenile justice, criminalistics and evidence forensics.
All classes are delivered online. You can choose to pursue a general criminal justice degree or one of two concentrations:
| Program | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice | 32 | 120 |
Program availability varies by location
Adapting to change: 2024 curriculum updates
We’ve recently updated the bachelor’s degree curriculum to prioritize the modern interdisciplinary knowledge and skills needed for success in the criminal justice industry in the present and future.
New and refreshed course topics include:
- Law enforcement security
- Community health
- Mental health
- Community corrections
- Crisis intervention
- Victimology
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Required Courses
All courses, 70.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Open Electives Courses
A minimum of 9.00 semester credit hours is required. Eligible students can take up to 9.00 credit hours of dual-credit graduate level coursework to complete a portion of the open electives requirement.
Required Capstone or Internship
3.00 semester credit hours are required.
* Online students in some states may not be allowed to take this internship due to state restrictions.
Required Courses in General Education
Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 36.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. Courses transferred from other accredited colleges may also be used to meet these requirements.
*Required Course
Personal and Professional Development Courses
All courses, 2.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Dual Credit
Save time and money by earning dual credit
Enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and you can take up to 9 credit hours of dual-credit graduate level coursework to use towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Social Work (MSW).
Our goal as a university is to create pathways for you to pursue the career you’ve always wanted and find success in your work.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program is $515 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Requirements
Admissions requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Criminal Justice bachelor's degree program include:
- Prior education requirement. Completion of high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Entrance testing. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to succeed in college-level courses via prior ACT/SAT scores, completion of prior college credit, or additional entrance testing.
- Availability of time, personal commitment, and a professional attitude. We exist to help enthusiastic students fully committed to reaching their highest career goals. Our faculty and leadership are dedicated to helping you reach them.
You will need to meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor and complete an enrollment application to be admitted into the program.
If you have any additional questions regarding admissions into the program, please contact our admissions team.
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District Of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.
Classes Start January 6th
Waived Enrollment FeeWhat can I do with a bachelor’s in criminal justice?
You can follow many different potential career paths by earning a criminal justice bachelor’s degree. The field offers many possibilities, including:
- Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)
- Detective / Criminal Profiler
- Police Officer
- Correctional Officer
- Parole or Probation Officer
- Fish and Game Warden
- First-Line Supervisor of Protective Service Workers
While entry-level positions may require only a high school diploma or associate degree, a bachelor’s degree can better qualify you for career advancement in the future.
How can I advance my career?
Advancing to the next level in your career is determined by a mix of education level, years of experience and on-the-job performance. It depends on the career path you choose and the educational requirements that come with it.
Our goal is to prepare you best for whatever path you walk and provide you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your work and keep growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
You are typically not required to earn a degree to enroll in police academy and work as a police officer. A high school diploma is often the minimal required formal education, with a required background check. Some agencies may require a bachelor’s degree or a certain number of credit hours, especially at the federal level.
While you may not need a degree for your first entry-level job as a police officer, if you plan to continue advancing your career in criminal justice, earning an associate or bachelor’s degree is a good idea.
Course subjects and topics in our bachelor’s degree program include:
- Criminal Investigation, which provides an overview of the investigative process and current issues.
- Criminal Law, which covers key components of criminal law and its enforcement. It also includes an overview of the criminal law process, defenses, and jurisdiction of the courts.
- Ethics in Law Enforcement, which reviews public administration and ethical issues involved with public service.
- Evidence Forensics, which covers the law model and types and current rules of evidence acquisition.
- Crisis Intervention, which provides study in the methods and techniques employed by professionals in the field of crisis intervention.
- Risk Assessment, which helps students learn how to assess and identify threats, analyze targets, and implement approaches to risk assessment.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Every job is different and educational requirements will vary by employer. Some will only require a high school diploma, while others (particularly federal agencies) may require an associate or bachelor’s degree.
You may be able to qualify for entry-level jobs without a degree, but advancing your career in criminal justice may become more difficult without any formal college-level education.
With an associate degree in criminal justice, you may be eligible for a variety of jobs, including security guards and first-line supervisors of protective service workers. These jobs are found in a variety of industries, including travel, gambling, and investigation and security services.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), security guards earned an average salary of $40,440 per year ($19.44 per hour).*
With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you can be eligible for jobs such as first-line supervisor of correctional officer, first-line supervisor, police officer, or detective. The BLS reports the average wage for detectives and criminal investigators is $95,930 per year ($46.12 per hour).
Criminology is the study of crime, including its causes, consequences and costs. Criminology students study the behavior patterns, backgrounds, and sociological trends of criminals.
Criminal justice is a social science that seeks to identify and explain criminal behavior, as well as how society deals with crime. Criminal justice majors focus more on the legal and correctional systems, the deterrence of crimes, and ethics codes of behavior. Students in a criminal justice program often study a variety of topics including legal studies, psychology, public administration, and sociology.
Though they are different, both criminologists and criminal justice professionals work in the criminal justice sector to lessen crime and improve society.
Yes, absolutely. A degree in criminal justice can help prepare you for a variety of jobs, from law enforcement to public service. The field continues to expand, offering people more career opportunities.
In addition, a criminal justice degree provides a strong base of knowledge for future learning if you so choose. You can potentially pursue a law degree, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), or a Master of Social Work (MSW). With Herzing you may potentially earn dual credit towards an MBA or MSW as part of the bachelor’s degree program in criminal justice.
If you enjoy learning about the law, possess a strong sense of responsibility, and would like to help serve your community, a criminal justice degree may be a great fit. Learn more about our criminal justice degree program today!
Yes, you can earn your associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice online. Look for a regionally accredited university like Herzing that has a well-rounded curriculum and experienced faculty and staff. Universities that offer student advisors and online support can help prepare you for academic success.
Once you have your associate or bachelor’s degree, you can also pursue additional training or education to help increase your earning potential and further your career.
Step 1 is getting educated. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), crime scene investigators (CSIs, alternatively referred to as “forensic science technicians”) are typically required to hold a bachelor’s degree.
While a major in a natural science like biology or chemistry may be preferred for a role more focused in a laboratory setting, an education in criminal justice can be appropriate for jobs more heavily favoring crime scene analysis and evidence collection in the field. Our bachelor’s degree curriculum includes a course titled “Evidence Forensics” which covers the basic rules of evidence collection.
Prerequisites for employment will vary by the job. Sometimes prior law enforcement or criminology experience will be required, particularly for senior-level roles.
Yes. Students may pursue an undergraduate degree in criminal justice as a solid educational foundation to help them prepare to apply for law school.
The American Bar Association (ABA) does not make any specific recommendation for undergraduate majors, noting that students are accepted to law school from a wide variety of academic disciplines.
Herzing University also offers legal studies programs that can help prepare students to work in different areas of law. Some students use this as a first step toward law school, be it in the near future or a few years down the road.
Program Finder
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree Programs
Showing 1 program for the Online campus
This program provides students with comprehensive academic knowledge of criminology, law enforcement, corrections, and the criminal justice system as well as the skills and techniques used in these disciplines. This degree can also provide advancement opportunities for law enforcement personnel requiring a bachelor's degree when applying for or advancing within the profession. (Some states, including but not limited to Minnesota, require additional certification, licensing, and/or training academy completion to be eligible for employment in a law enforcement capacity.)
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Disclosures
Accreditation & Disclosures
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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